Working hard or hardly working? If you are looking for a natural remedy to stress (and we do encourage you to say no to pills and who knows what other substances that do more wrong than right), we recommend you to enter in your diet these 11 foods that have the ability to relax you.
1. Soup
A hot soup is perfect for when you are going through tough times and you need some relaxation. Try chicken soup, cooked with tomatoes, onions, pepper and garlic. Serve it hot and you’ll notice that you feel better. Chicken soup will protect your health and has the ability to increase the body’s immunity. You have probably noticed that when you have a cold and you are feeling down because of the fever and runny nose, a hot soup relaxes you and you are able to fall asleep.
2. Milk
If you had a long day, drink a cup of warm milk before bed. Milk contains a substance that helps produce serotonin, the hormone of happiness. Serotonin is one that will make you feel more relaxed and sleep better.
3. Eggs
You can use them for breakfast or as a snack. Just like milk, they contain a relaxing substance called tryptophan, which acts in the brain and helps you feel relaxed.
4. Cheese
Starting to think that dairy is the key to happiness. Choose cheeses rich in protein and include them in the daily diet. Substances in cheese are what is found in milk and eggs, so do not miss a tasty serving of health and relaxation every day.
5. Honey
Honey has the ability to soothe and relax your brain, helping you to get the energy needed for a day’s work. Eat honey for breakfast and you will notice the change in tone. You can try a teaspoon of honey in the morning on the empty stomach (helps your immune system as well), or you can go for the classic honey, toast and tea combo.
6. Brown rice
The carbohydrates in brown rice help you produce insulin, which allows the body to produce serotonin and melatonin. Both substances are needed to relax and sleep. The same effect you can find in oats and whole pasta.
7. Nuts and seeds
They are rich in magnesium, selenium, zinc, vitamin E and vitamin B, so they will help your brain to relax, especially when you consume high quantities. Magnesium deficiency can affect brain and the lack of selenium can cause depression and anxiety. Another good reason to introduce them in your diet.
8. Seafood
They are a good source of magnesium, zinc and selenium, so they will have a positive effect on the nervous system, just like nuts and seeds. Choose tuna, salmon, shrimp and lobster, sardines, mackerel and trout. You will thus be able to obtain the necessary of Omega 3, another important element to relax.
9. Dark chocolate
Besides the fact that it is delicious – we are all crazy about it – dark chocolate helps release happy hormones. Studies say that a small amount of chocolate consumed daily can relieve stress hormones. So we encourage you to eat chocolate, as long as you do it in moderation and as long as it has a high amount of cocoa (at least 75%).
10. Fruits and vegetables
Eat them all the time because they are rich in magnesium and vitamin C: spinach, broccoli, mint, strawberries, kiwi, dried dates, figs, papaya, cherries, oranges, guava, mango, pineapple, berries, grapefruit and bananas. A true feast for the senses.
11. Tea
Last but not least, we turn to the traditional tea. It is used worldwide for its calming effect, since ancient times. You can choose a black or green tea, but you can use other teas that prevent anxiety and reduce stress: chamomile, basil and valerian.
Leave a Reply